Riverland Community College hosts approximately 100 leading middle and high school VEX Robotics students and mentors from Minnesota and Iowa at Albert Lea High School on Dec. 14 for the Dream It Do It Southern Minnesota VEX Robotics Tournament. The action-packed tournament features teams competing with and against other schools in a series of back-to-back robot challenges. Participants will compete for the championship title by strategically executing the game Toss Up, driving robots they designed, built and programmed from the ground up using the VEX Robotics Design System.

Riverland Community College is already wrapping up fall semester and preparing for a new semester to start January 13 in the new year. Our communities may be aware of the programs and courses we offer on our campuses or online, but I have been extremely impressed with some of the partnership opportunities that leverage the talents of our colleagues in the area’s K-12 systems.

Riverland Community College Foundation’s 150 x 2015 Scholarship Campaign is making headway and clearing the way for many more students to achieve their dream of a higher education and get a jumpstart to a new career. The Foundation embarked on a special project July 1, 2012 to increase the number of scholarship funds available that support Riverland students on their quest for an education. When the campaign began, the Riverland Foundation had 90 sponsored scholarships with a goal to have 150 sponsored scholarships available for students by the end of 2015.

Riverland Community College Theatre and Music departments will transport audiences into the magical, wonderful world of The Drowsy Chaperone, the musical comedy on stage at the Austin Campus’ Frank W. Bridges Theatre Feb. 27 through March 9. This musical was the darling of the Tony awards in 2006, winning the most statues including best book of a musical for Bob Martin and Don McKellar and best musical score for Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.

Riverland Community College is pleased to announce the students whose academic achievement placed them on the 2013 fall president’s and dean’s lists. Riverland congratulates these individuals for their outstanding academic accomplishments.

Riverland Community College will host an open house with a variety of different higher educational partners four times this spring at the Owatonna Campus. This free event, open to all students, parents and community members, provides an opportunity to meet with Riverland’s partnering colleges and universities to explore the opportunities available in the Owatonna area.

Community colleges like Riverland have become increasingly more popular options as students consider the rising costs of traditional four-year institutions. Attending Riverland and then transferring to a four-year university to complete a bachelor’s degree is a more viable option when families consider managing educational expenses.

The Ohio State University has certified Riverland Community College employees Wanda Staska and Lori Jensen as Level III DACUM facilitators. DACUM is an acronym for developing a curriculum. It is a one or two day storyboarding process that provides a picture of what the worker does in terms of duties, tasks, knowledge, skills, traits and in some cases the tools the worker uses. A DACUM workshop or individual job analysis can increase a business or organization’s efficiency, effectiveness and productivity; update human resources job descriptions; prepare for future openings and the hiring of new employees.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees presented the system’s highest academic honor, the Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching, to four faculty members, including Sandra Sellner-Wee, instructor of radiography at Riverland Community College, yesterday during a luncheon in St. Paul.

Riverland Community College, in partnership with Workforce Development, Inc., hosts an Adult Scrubs Camp for participants from southeastern Minnesota Thursday, May 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Building of Riverland’s Austin campus. This event immerses participants into the world of healthcare and focuses on building necessary skills for a career in the healthcare industry.

Riverland Community College is hosting a statewide Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) symposium for educators and community members interested in collaborating with educators on project-based learning activities. Symposium highlights include work sessions with nationally recognized, experienced Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER) practitioners, Dr. Devanas and Dr. Koupelis, introducing the participants to the SENCER models of curriculum and active learning. In addition, hands-on workshops with experienced Minnesota SENCER practitioners offer participants opportunities to interact and collaborate with colleagues to improve STEM education within their institutions and communities.

Riverland Community College and Enterprise Minnesota are currently accepting registrations for a free State of Manufacturing event to be held at the Owatonna Campus June 2 from 9 to 10 a.m. in Room 140. Bob Kill, Enterprise Minnesota president, will discuss findings from its sixth annual State of Manufacturing® survey results that report on the state’s manufacturing outlook and the industry’s top issues. Enterprise Minnesota conducted hundreds of phone surveys and 20 focus groups with manufacturing executives across the state to understand their perceptions and opinions on the economy and other major issues impacting business.

Riverland Community College has received approval from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system to offer a Fire Science Technology Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree program. This two-year, 60-credit program begins Fall Semester 2014. Students can begin registering.

Minnesota State University, Mankato and Riverland Community College jointly announced today a partnership between the two institutions that includes guaranteed admission and in-state tuition rates at Minnesota State Mankato to prospective high school students from Iowa who meet designated criteria. The “Future Maverick” program, effective this fall for newly enrolled Riverland students from Iowa, provides a seamless pathway for students to earn an associate’s degree from Riverland and a bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State Mankato.

Riverland Community College has named Kelly McCalla as new academic dean of the arts, humanities and social sciences division. He starts his new position July 2.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees voted unanimously at their May 21 meeting to approve Riverland’s revised vision, mission and heart statements.

Congratulations to the Riverland Community College Women's Softball team for achieving academic excellence as a 2013-2014 NJCAA All-Academic Team.

Representatives from Riverland Community College and Doherty Staffing Solutions met June 18 to celebrate the results of the seventh Doherty Scholarship Golf Classic held last June to raise funds that support Riverland students. The 2013 event raised $33,143 for student scholarships.